His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali met with the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Tony Blair at State House today.

Mr Blair is the first former or sitting British Prime Minister to visit the country.

During his two-day visit, he is scheduled to participate in a sit-down conversation with President Ali which will be moderated by Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin. They will discuss global climate challenges, Guyana’s leading role in environmental protection and the importance of education and scientific research.

Mr Blair is also expected to visit a number of infrastructural projects and mark the inauguration of the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre founded by UK politician David Lammy and his wife Nicola Green.

At today’s meeting, the President was accompanied by Vice President, the Honourable Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd; Foreign Secretary, Mr Robert Persaud; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Elisabeth Harper and Director of Presidential Affairs, Mrs Marcia Nadir-Sharma.